Phonograph control means



1953 L. c. AMMLUNG, JR. ET AL, 2,654,457

PHONOGRAPH CONTROL MEANS Filed Oct. 28, 1948 s Sheets-Sheet 1 IllIIIlI/IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII VIIIIII F/al INVENTORS ldl/lf C AMA/[0N6 (/1: AID

Jam 4. roz/kriuar Wiilg-M Oct. 6, 1953 L. c. AMMLUNG, JR.. ET AL 2,654,457

PHONOGRAPH CONTROL MEANS Filed Oct- 28, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 HQ. 6i

INVENTOR5. l0[/// 6'. JAIMIZ/A/GQ/I: l/Vfl BY JU/IWA. TOURIZ'ZLOT Patented Oct. 6, 1953 2, 54,457 PHONOGRAPH CONTROL MEANS Louis, C. Ammlung,

Jr hiladelphia, Pa, and

JohnA, Tourtellot, Merchantville, N. ,L, as-

signors to Philco Pa, a corporation Corporation, of Pennsylvania ApplicationOctober 28, 1948,.Seria1 No. 55.375 la m 192-11 4) The present invention relates to phonograph apparatus and, more particularly, to. mechanism operable to control the stopping and starting of the motor which drives the turntable of a phonograph. Specifically, the invention has to do with improvements in motor control means especially devised for association with phonographs of the type in which the toner-arm is adapted to be manually moved in and out of playing position.

In order to simplify the use of a phonograph of the kind above mentioned, it is desirable to provide amechanism which insures automatic stopping-of the turntable motor when the tonearm reaches a predetermined position at the end of the playing of a record, which prevents energization .of the motor when the tone-arm is placed in rest position, and which insures starting of the motor when the tone-arm is moved from rest position to. playing position over a record. Mechanisms of this general typehave'heretofore been proposed for the above stated purposes. However, many of theseproposed mechanismsmake no provision to prevent objectionable momentary energization of the driving motor as the tone-.armis moved from final position to rest position. vand those mechanisms which include means to prevent such momentary energization, usually, are too complicated and expensive to warrant their use in low cost phonograph apparatus.

Moreover, in phonographs wherein a rubber rimmed idler is employed to establish the drive connectionbetween the motor shaft and the turntable, it is desirable that the idler be moved out of contact with the turntable and, especially, with the motor shaft, during periods when the phonograph is not in use, so as to prevent the formation of sharp flat or uneven surfaces on the idler rim. The presence of such fiat and uneven surfaces about the periphery of the idler, tends to result in turntable speed variations which, of course, are conducive to bad reproduction. Arrangements effective to withdraw the idler from the motor shaft have heretofore been Su gested. In known arrangements, however,

it is customary to move the idler in response to actuation of an ciT-and-on switch buttonor knob, so that with phonographs of the manually operable type, the operator is required to manipulate not only the tone-arm, but also a separate control switch member.

It is, therefore, the primary object of this invention to provide an improved phonograph con- .trol mechanism for a manually operable phonograph, which mechanism avoids the above mentioned objectionable features and which, because of its constructional and operational simplicity, can economically be incorporated in phonographs of the type referred to, particularly those in the less expensive class.

Another and more specific object of the invention is to provide an arrangement adapted to control the stopping and the starting of the turntable drivingmotor, as well as to control the engagement of the idler with the motor shaft and turntable in response to movements of the toner-arm, so that manipulation of the tone-arm, alone, is necessary to eiiect all the desired controls. Thus, in accordance with this object of the. invention, when the user displaces the tonearm from record-engaging position to rest position, the switching means is opened and the idler is withdrawn from pressing engagement with the motor shaft and turntable, and when the user displaces the tone-arm from rest position to record-engaging position, the switching means is closed and the idler is permitted to move into ingagement with the motor shaft and the turnta e.

These and other objects, and the manner in which they are obtained, will more clearly ap pear from the following description based on the accompanying drawings in "which:

Figure l is a plan view of a phonograph embodying control means constructed in accordance with this invention, certain portions being broken away for clarity of illustration, and the parts being shown in the position they assume When the tone-arm is in its rest position, and the turntable vand its driving motor are stopped;

Figure 2 is a sectional elevational view, on an enlargedscale, looking in the general direction of arrows 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, but looking inthe general direction indicated by arrows 33 of Figure 1;

Figure dis a side elevational viewof the switch mechanism as seen in Figure 3, the supporting bracket being indicated in dot and dash lines, and the various parts being shown in the position they assume during the playing of a record, when the-turntable and its driving motor are in ope a i n Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, but shows the position of the various parts when the end of playing of a record has been reached, and the turntable and its driving motor have stopped; and

Figures 6, 7 and 8 are explanatory schematic views illustrating the operation of the electrical control, depending upon the relation and position of the parts as shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5, respectively.

Referring more particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the phonograph illustrated comprises a cabinet structure which includes a horizontal panel or motor board It adapted to support the various parts, as hereinafter described. A turntable H is rotatably mounted on the panel It and serves to hold a record l2 for the playing thereof. As is customary, a spindle it (Figure 1) serves to center the record on the turntable. The turntable is driven by a suitable electric motor indicated, generally, at id in Figure 1, by means of a rubber rimmed wheel or idler I5, which is disposed for frictional engagement with an annular surface it provided by the usual depending flange of the turntable. The idler It, in turn, is driven through motor shaft ll.

A tone-arm I8 is mounted on the panel ill for movement both vertically and horizontally relative to the turntable. The tone-arm is provided with a head portion Isa which houses a suitable pickup device (not shown) having a reproducing stylus or needle rep-resented at 19, in Figures 2 and 3. A supporting post 20 is arranged to support the tone-arm in rest position, as is shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings. An arm 2! which is connected with the tone-arm through the mounting shaft 22 thereof, serves to control the operation of the motor and, also, to control the engagement of the driving wheel I5 with the motor shaft and turntable, in response to movement of said tone-arm. The parts or elements i by means of which these functions are accomplished will now be described. I

The arm 2! is provided with a clamp structure (Figures 2 and 3) which embraces and rigidly secures said arm on the lower portion of the tonearm shaft 22 to move with rotation of said shaft in its upper bearing 24 and lower support 25, as the tone-arm i8 is swung horizontally. The arm 2| is secured to the shaft 22 so as to extend in predetermined angular relationship to the tonearm, as is shown in Figure 1, and the extended free end portion of said arm is adapted for cooperation with the motor controlling switch mechanism indicated, generally, at 26.

This switch mechanism includes a mounting bracket 2i which, as best seen in Figures 2 and 3, is conveniently secured to the underside of supporting panel ill, for instance by means of bolts 28 or like fastening elements, so that a portion 2a of the bracket depends vertically from said panel. This vertical depending portion 29 of the bracket is provided with a pair of relatively spaced and substantially horizontally disposed sleeve bearings 3t and 3!. A generally rectangular member or plate 32 having a trunnion 33 which is rotatably retained in one sleeve bearing 38, fixedly carries an elongated mercury switch 3t, as by means of a clip 35. Another generally rectangular member or plate 36 having a trunnion 3'! rotatably retained in the other sleeve bearing 3!, also fixedly carries a second elongated mercury switch 38, as by means of a clip 39. The pivotal mounting of plates 32 and 36 is such that said plates, together with the mercury switches carried thereby, normally tend to gravitate in generally vertical planes, about horizontal axes provided by the cooperatively associated sleeve bearings and trunnions, from up-position (Figures 1 and 2) to down-position (Figure 5).

As more clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3, the

or m) arrow A in Figure 4.

pivoted plate 32 is moved to and held in upposition by means of a rigid finger it and abutment 4!. As shown, the finger it depends from the horizontal arm 2|, and the abutment t! extends laterally from the vertical plate 32. Thus,

when the tone-arm is moved to inoperative or' rest position on post 29, said finger engage said abutment, so that plate 32 is brought to its upposition and retained in that position as long as the tone-arm remains in said rest position. The down-position of plate 32 is determined by means of a stop which is advantageously obtained by providing the vertical portion 29 of the bracket with an arcuate slot "52 through which abutment it of said plate extends, so that a marginal porti-on of said slot, as best seen in Figures i and 5, serves to arrest said abutment in its displacement with the movement of said plate to downposition.

The pivoted plate as is moved to up-position by engagement of a lateral projection 33 (see Figure 3) on said plate 35 with an upper edge portion of plate 32. This edge portion of plate 32 and the mentioned projection on plate 38 further serve, as more clearly appears in Figure 5, to determine the down-position of said plate 36, since said edge portion arrests said projection in its displacement with movement of the plate to down-position.

In accordance with the invention, and as will more clearly appear from Figure 4, provision is made to retain plate 36 in its up-position, and to release said plate for movement to its downposition, independently or" plate 32. For that purpose, a latch member is is mounted to p V in a generally vertical plane about a substantially horizontal axis provided by a stud Q5 which extends laterally from vertical portion 29 of the mounting bracket. The latch member i l is so mounted that it tends, under the influence of its own weight, to assume a generally vertical position, as can be seen in various views of the drawings. That end portion of the latch member which extends below the pivotal axis, has a cam surface portion 46 leading into an indentation ll. This indentation is arranged to receive a laterally extending finger 45 on vertically mounted plate 33 and, thus, supports said plate in upposition, when the edge portion of plate 32 leaves projection is on plate 353. The mentioned cam surface and indentation on the latch member 3-4, are so disposed that the finger is on plate is rides along said surface, as the plate moves from its down-position to its rip-position, until said finger registers with said indentation, whereupon said member pivots and effects engagement of the indentation with the finger.

The pivoted vertical latch member is further provided with a generally horizontal serrated edge portion dB. This edge portion is so distric final groove of the record, a pawl 58, which is loosely mounted on and dangles from posed that when the tone-arm nears the eccenarm 25, engages and sweeps over said edge portion oi the latch member, as is indicated by When the pickup needle enter the usual eccentric terminal groove of the record, the latch member is rotated counterclockwise, as viewed in Figure 5, due to reversal movement of the arm 2!, as indicated by arrow B, and to the engagement of pawl 59 with the serrated edge portion 49 on said latch member. Consequently, plate 38 is released and trips to, down-position, under the influence of its own weight. The loose mounting of pawl 53 preaz n vents premature tripping due-teeny slight eccentricities which may be present in the sound groove of the record. In practice, the arm 2| is advant g ously formed in two parts, the part 21a (see Figure l) which carries the pawl 50 and the resetting finger 45, being adjustable to vary the position of said pawl and finger, so as to time their action. In order to prevent undue displacement of latch member 34, a stop 5| which is provided on said member, extends through an elongated slot 52 in the vertical portion 29 of the mounting bracket, the ends of said slot cooperating with stop 5| to limit the extent of movement of the latch member.

The purpose and operation of the structure so far described, willbe best understood from schematiciFigures 6, 7 and '8, with reference to Figures 3, 4 and 5. As illustrated, the mercury switches 34 and 38, which are carried by pivoted plates 32 and 3,6, are connected in series with the phonograph motor 3. Thus, a conductor 53 connects one contact 54 of one switch 34 with one contact 55 of the other switch 38; a conductor 56 connects the other contact 51 of one switch 34 to one side 58 of a source of current; a conductor 59 connects the other contact 60 of the other switch 38 to the motor; and a connector 6| connects the motor to the other side 62 of said source or" current.

The condition represented in Figure 6 exists When both plates 32 and38 are in up-position, as is shown, for instance in Figures 2 and 3, that is, when the tone-arm is in rest position on post 2%], and the finger id on arm 2| is in operative engagement with the abutment 4| on plate 32. Under this condition, switch 38 is closed but switch 34 is opened, so that no current flows through the phonograph motor. This condition takes place when the user manually picks up the tone-arm and moves it from a position over the record to a position adjacent the rest post 2s.

The condition represented in Figure 7 exists when plate 36 is in l p-position and plate 32 is in down-position, as is shown in Figure 4, that is, when the tone-arm is in playing position over the record, and the finger 49 on arm 2| has leftv abutment 4| on plate 32, but latch member id is in operative engagement with finger 88 on plate 3.5-. 'Under this condition, both switches are closed so that current flows through the phonograph motor. This condition takes place when the user manually brings the tone-arm from the rest post 20 to a position over the record.

The condition represented in Figure 8 exists when both plates 32 and 36 are in down-position, as is shown in Figure 5, that is, when the tone-arm has reached the position where the pickup needle engages the eccentric final groove of the record, and the pawl 50 has displaced latch member 44 to release plate 34. Under this condition, switch 33 is closed but switch 38 is opened, so that no current ,flows through the motor. This condition occurs automatically, in response to reversed movement .of the tone-arm as a result of engagement of the pickup needle with the final eccentric groove of the record.

It will be understood that the condition shown in Figure 6, is restored from either the condition shown in Figure 7 or the condition shown in Figure 8, when the user manually moves the tone-arm back to rest position. In restoring the condition shown in Figure 6 from the condition shown in Figure 7, that is, in moving the tone- .arm to the rest position from a record playing position, the switch 38 remains undisturbed because plate 32, only, is moved from down-position to up-position as a result of the engagement of finger 40 with abutment 4|. However, in restoring the condition shown in Figure 6 from the condition shown in Figure 8, that is, in moving the tone-arm to rest position from a position in which tripping of plate 35 has occurred, the two switches 34 and 38 are simultaneously displaced because, as plate 32 is moved from downposition to rip-position by engagement of finger 40 with abutment 5|, plate 36 is likewise moved from down-position to lip-position by engagement of plate 32 with projection 43 on plate 36. In this connection, it is important to note that the switches are so related that, although the two switches move simultaneously during restoration of the condition shown in Figure B, from the conditien shown in Figure 8, switch 34 opens before switch 38 closes. In this manner, undesirable momentary flow of current through the motor is positively prevented.

It is also important to note that the relative disposition of the serrated edge portion 49 on trip latch 5 and of the trip pawl as on arm 2 is such that engagement of said pawl with said edge portion occurs only when the tone-arm reaches a position closely adjacent the final eccentric groove of the record. This arrangement makes it possible, during playing or" a record, to move the tone-arm back for the purpose of repeating a recorded passage without causing tripping of the switch means.

In accordance with the invention, and as will clearly appear from Figure 1, the arm 2| which, as hereinbefore explained, controls the operation of the switches, also serves to control the position of the driving wheel or idler 15 with respect to the motor shaft 5? and with the turntable flange surface H3. For that purpose, a flexible connectionsuch as a cord 63, has one of its ends attached, as at to the arm 2! and has the other of its ends attached, as at to the usual pivotally mounted plate 53 which biased, in the customary manner, by means of a spring 67 to urge the wheel into snu engagement with motor shaft and with the turntable flange.

From the preceding description, it will be understood that, when the tone-arm is placed on rest post 26, the arm 2i functions, not only to re set switch 38 and to actuate switch 34 for the purpose of stopping the motor out, further, exerts a pull on cord 63 against the action of spring thereby moving the driving wheel l5 away from the motor shaft i-l and surface iii of the turntable flange. Accordingly, as long as the tonearm is in inoperative position on rest post no fiat surfaces will develop on the periphery of the rubber rim of wheel i5, as likely to occur when, during long periods or" idleness, rubber rim is allowed to remain in pressing engagement with the turntable flange and, -larticularly with the motor shaft. In order to prevent the tension of spring 671 from pulling the tone-arm away from its rest post, the post is conveniently provided with an upstanding lip d8 against which a side portion of the tone-arm abuts, as is shown in Figure l, when the tone-arn1 rests on said post. Movement of the tone-arm from rest to a playing position over the record, not only release of switch 3 to initiate operation of the motor but, also, relieves the pull on 53 so that the driving wheel I5 engages the motor shaft and the turntable flange, under the influence of spring 6'1. The arrangement as above described has the advantage that movement of the tonearm to and from operative position, is all that is needed to turn the motor on and off and to place the driving wheel I5 in and out of engagement with the motor shaft and turntable.

We claim:

1. A phonograph control mechanism comprising, in combination with a turntable and a tonearm movable into and out of record-engaging position, an electric motor coupled with the turntable to rotate the same, a pair of switches connected in series with said motor, control means cooperating with the tone-arm to effect opening of one switch and closing of the other switch in response to movement of the tone-arm from recoral-engaging position, to effect closing of said one switch in response to movement of the tonearm to record-engaging position, and to efiect opening of said other switch in response to movement of the tone-arm upon reaching the end of the playing of a record, and means connected with the tone-arm and effective to provide for uncoupling of the motor from the turntable in response to movement of the tone-arm from record-engaging position, and for coupling of the motor to the turntable in response to movement of the tone-arm to record-engaging position.

2. A phonograph control mechanism comprising, in combination with a turntable and a tonearm movable into and out of record-engaging position, an electric motor having a driving shaft, an idle movable in positions to couple and to uncouple said shaft and turntable, a pair of switches connected in series with said motor, control means cooperating with the tone-arm to effect opening of one switch and closing of the other switch in response to movement of the tonearm from record-engaging position, to effect closing of said one switch in response to movement of the tone-arm to record-engaging position, and to effect opening of said other switch in response to movement of the tone-arm upon reaching the end of the playing of a record, and means connected with said idler and tone-arm to move the idler in position to uncouple said shaft and turntable in response to movement of the tone-arm out of record-engaging position and to move the idler in position to couple said shaft and turntable in response to movement of the tone-arm to record-engaging position.

3. In a phonograph, a turntable adapted to support a record for the playing thereof, a tonearm pivotally mounted adjacent the turntable to move to and from record-engaging position, an electric motor having a driving shaft, switch means operable to energize and to deenergize the motor, an idler mounted for movement between said driving shaft and said turntable, tension means associated with and normally acting on the idler to urge it into a position establishing a driving connection between said shaft and said turnta le, means interconnecting the idler and tone-arm to move and to hold said idler, against the action of the tension means, in a position disrupting said driving connection in response to movement of the tone-arm out of record-engaging position and to release said idler for movement to its first mentioned position in response to movement of the tone-arm into record-engaging position and to release said idler for movearm to move therewith for operating said switch means to energize the motor in response to movement of the tone-arm to record-engaging position and to operate the switch means to deepergize the motor in response to movement of said tone-arm out of record-engaging position.

4. In a phonograph, a turntable adapted to support a record for the playing thereof, an electric motor, means coupling said motor to the turntable, a tone-arm pivotally supported adjacent said turntable to move to and from operative and rest positions, a pair of circuit controlling switches connected in series with said motor, a first pivotally mounted member carrying one switch and movable to and from positions to effect opening and closing of said one switch and normally tending to move to switch opening position, a second pivotally mounted member carrying the other switch and movable to and from positions to effect opening and closing of said other switch and normally tending to move to switch closing position, a pivotal latch element engaging said first member to hold it in switch.

closing position, means connected and movable with the tone-arm and engaging said second member to move and to hold it in switch opening position in response to movement of the tonearm from operative to rest position and disengaging said second member to free it for movement to switch closing position in response to movement of the tone-arm from rest to operative position, other means connected and movable with the tone-arm and engaging said latch element to release the first member for movement to switch opening position in response to movement of the tone-arm upon reaching a predetermined position at the end of playing of a record, and means provided on the second member and disposed to be engaged by the first member to efiect reengagement of said second member with the latch element in response to movement of the first plate to switch opening position.

5. The arrangement set forth in claim 4, in which the means coupling the motor to the turntable includes an idler normally urged into engagement with said driving shaft and turntable to establish a driving connection therebetween, and a connection between the tone-arm and idler to disrupt said driving connection in response to movement of the tone-arm to rest position, and to reestablish said driving connection in response to movement of the tone-arm to operative position.

6. A circuit controlling switch mechanism for the turntable driving motor of a phonograph comprising, in combination with a tone-arm movable into and out of record-engaging position, a pair of members each mounted for movement in two positions, a mercury switch fixedly arranged on one member so as to open in response to movement of said one member to one of its positions and to close in response to movement of said one member to the other of its positions, a second mercury switch fixedly arranged on the other member so as to open in response to movement of said other member to one of its positions and to close in response to movement of said other member to the other of its positions, and control means cooperating with the tone-arm to effect movement of one member to switch opening position and for movement of the other member to switch closing position in response to movement of the tone-arm out of record-engaging position, to effect movement of said one member to switch closing position in response to movement of the tone-arm to recordengaging position, and to effect movement of said other member to switch closing position in response to movement of the tone-arm upon reaching the end of the playing of a record.

7. A circuit controlling switch mechanism for the turntable driving motor of a phonograph comprising, in combination with a tone-arm movable into and out of record-engaging position, a first switch structure movable to circuit opening and closing positions and normally tending to move to circuit opening position, latch means engaging said switch structure to maintain it in circuit closing position, means connected with the tone-arm and movable therewith in its movement upon reaching the end of playing of a record to trip said latch means so as to free said switch structure for movement to circuit opening position, a second switch structure movable to circuit opening and closing position and normally tending to move to circuit closing position, other means connected with the tone-arm and engaging said second switch structure to move and to hold it in circuit opening position when the tone-arm is moved out of record-engaging position, said other means disengaging said second switch structure to free it for movement to circuit closing position when the tonearm is moved to record-engaging position, and interengageable means between said switch structures to move the first switch structure from circuit opening position to circuit closing position by movement of the second switch structure from circuit closing position to circuit opening position.

LOUIS C. AMMLUNG, JR.

JOHN A. TOURTELLOT.

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